Steve switches off his computer and gets up to leave. The team has just finished a really difficult case and he's told them to leave early.
Danny comes into his office with a big smile on his face."We should celebrate. You want to get some beers and watch a game?" he asks. "I'll even buy us pizza."
Steve shakes his head. It is a good idea but he already has plans. "Cath's in town," he explains. "I'm going to cook her dinner."
"That's good, right?" Danny asks as his smile disappears. "You don't look happy, babe."
Steve frowns. He always finds it hard to keep things from Danny. "I guess so," he says as they walk out together.
Danny stands in front of him to stop him. "Have you spoken to her and explained to her how you feel?"
Steve shrugs, confused. "How do I feel?"
"Last time she left after Joe's funeral you said you missed her."
Steve shrugs again."I do but I don't know if she misses me, Danny. I understood when she said she didn't want to comit to me but she keeps coming back so I don't know what to think anymore."
Danny gives him an encouraging nudge on the arm. "Maybe if you talk to her she'll tell you how she feels."
Steve sighs. "What if she says she still doesn't love me enough to comit to me?"
Danny gives him a sad look. "Then at least you will know and you can move on."
Steve nods. He knows Danny is right but asking Cath is going to be hard to do. When she turned down his marriage proposal it had hurt so much. If she doesn't want to comit to him this time he will have to say goodbye forever and that will hurt more.
"Wish me luck, Danno," he says as he leaves the office.
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Steve cooks Cath's favorite meal. They sit out on the back porch to eat it. He puts candles on the table and he lights them as it gets dark.
Cath smiles at him as she finishes her dinner. "That was lovely," she says as he pours her a glass of wine.
"Thank you." She looks beautiful in the candlelight. He really wants to ask her if she'd like to stay the night or for longer if she's got nowhere else to be. He stops himself because he knows that is the problem which is worrying him, she always has somewhere else to be.
"I've got something to ask you, Cath," he says feeling very nervous.
"Go on," she says still smiling.
"I know when I asked you to marry me before you said you couldn't comit to me. I understood why but now you keep coming back so I wondered…..."
Cath looks very worried. "What did you wonder, Steve?"
Steve feels worried too. "I wondered if you'd changed you mind and you want to be with me. Forever."
Cath puts her glass down and wipes her mouth with her napkin. "Steve…you know I have feelings for you…I love you but…..I need my career…"
Steve looks away, he can't look her in the face. "Why do you keep coming back then? I don't understand."
"I'm sorry…..."
Steve stands up because he can't sit still anymore. "Is it Hawaii? Don't you like it here? We could go somewhere else, start again."
Cath stands up too. "It's not Hawaii. It's me. I don't think I'm ready to settle down yet but I still want to be with you…"
Steve turns away. She is breaking his heart again. "Please don't come back again."
"Steve…..."
"I can't keep doing this. I need more, I want a real relationship."
Cath walks up to him. She wants to touch him but knows she can't. "I know and I'm sorry but…."
Steve shakes his head but does not turn round. "Please go."
Steve waits until she's left before walking back into the house. He picks up his phone and sends a message to Danny. "Come over. Bring lots of beer."